With a final goodnight, I watched as she walked towards her house, her shoulders slumping slightly. I felt a pang of regret, but I knew I had made the right decision. I couldn't risk jeopardizing my relationship with Hanna, nor did I want to play with Pila's emotions.
"What was that all about?" I mumbled to myself, perplexed by her sudden invitation and my own mixed emotions. I revved the engine and sped off into the night, the encounter leaving a lingering sense of confusion and unease.
***
Back in my room, I found IM sprawled on his bed, scrolling through his phone. He glanced up as I entered.
"Oh, welcome back," he said casually, then returned his attention to his phone.
I sighed and started changing my clothes. "Yeah..."
"How did it go earlier?" he asked, his voice muffled by the phone.
"I think I know why Pila's boyfriend was so possessive," I said, pulling off my shirt and opening the wardrobe.
"Yeah? Why?" IM finally looked up from his phone, curiosity piqued.
I pulled out a fresh shirt from the wardrobe and glanced at IM. "So, earlier, I took Pila home, and she invited me inside."
"Oh? That easy?" IM's eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"That easy," I confirmed, a hint of amusement in my voice.
IM let out a low whistle. "Damn, that's bold. So, what did you do?"
I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "I told her it wasn't a good idea. That it was getting late, and I should head home."
"And?" IM pressed, leaning closer with a curious glint in his eyes.
"And she looked disappointed, of course," I admitted, a slight frown creasing my brow. "But I think she understood. I told her we could hang out another time, maybe grab some food or something."
IM nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. "That's probably for the best, Xian. You don't want to get caught up in any unnecessary drama, especially with that jealous ex of hers still lurking around."
"Yeah, I know," I agreed, a sigh escaping my lips. "It's just... I don't want to hurt Pila's feelings. She seems like a nice girl."
Ting! My phone notified me of a new message.
I opened my phone and saw a text from Hanna.
[Hanna: Hey Xiannn]
What is it... now... I thought, a mix of excitement and apprehension bubbling within me.
[Me: Yeah?]
[Hanna: Wanna watch a horror movie tonight?]
Tonight... should I go to her house? I wondered, my heart skipping a beat.
[Me: At your house?]
[Hanna: No, silly! We're going to watch together online]
I looked at IM, a mischievous grin spreading across my face. "Hey IM, I'm going to skip out on hero things tonight," I announced, already anticipating his reaction.
"Oh, watching movies with Hanna~?" he teased, his voice dripping with playful sarcasm.
"Don't read my mind," I retorted, a light blush creeping onto my cheeks.
IM chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, alright. Have fun with your online date." He winked playfully, and I couldn't help but laugh.
"Thanks," I replied, a mischievous grin spreading across my face. "But I'll create my own clone, though," I added, a hint of mystery in my voice.
Imagine... my 100% perfect clone... I closed my eyes, focusing my will on the image in my mind.
Creak! The door suddenly opened, interrupting my concentration.
"Boys, dinner's ready-" My mother's voice trailed off as she saw me standing there, my clone beside me.
My eyes widened in alarm, and I quickly dispelled the clone. I looked at my mother, who seemed momentarily stunned, but she quickly recovered and shook her head. "Hey Mom... yeah, we'll be down to the kitchen in a minute."
"Ah... yeah, okay..." she said, a flicker of confusion in her eyes as she left the room.
I let out a sigh of relief. That was a close one. I had almost been caught using my powers in front of my mother. I turned to IM, who was watching the scene with amusement.
"That was close," he chuckled. "Your mom almost caught you red-handed."
"Yeah, I know," I replied, shaking my head. "I need to be more careful."
I glanced at the empty space where my clone had been standing just moments before. "Well, at least I have a backup plan for tonight," I said with a grin.
IM laughed. "Yeah, your clone can take your place at dinner. Just try not to scare your mom too much."
I nodded, a mischievous glint in my eyes. "Don't worry, I won't. But I might have a little fun with it."
After dinner, I teleported IM and my clone to the WRA building, while I... was going to enjoy the night with Hanna.
[Connected...]
"Test..." I said into my mic, tapping it lightly to make sure it was working.
Just then, Hanna's smiling face popped up on the screen. "Hey Xiannn~" she greeted, her voice cheerful.
"Hey... so what are we going to watch?" I asked, leaning back in my chair and getting comfortable.
"Hmm, I was thinking maybe 'The Conjuring'?" Hanna suggested, her eyes sparkling with mischievous excitement. "I heard it's super scary!"
I chuckled, leaning closer to the screen. "Sounds good to me. I'm not easily scared, but I'm always up for a good thrill."
"Oh, we'll see about that," Hanna teased, a playful smirk on her lips.
As the horror movie began to play, I couldn't help but notice how Hanna kept glancing away from the screen, her eyes darting nervously around the room.
"How's your day?" I asked, trying to break the silence and distract her from the spooky scenes.
"Oh, yeah, just like usual," she replied, her voice a bit muffled as she hid her face behind her hands. "I'm just resting and lazing around today."
"Not training?" I asked, curious.
"Not today," she said, her voice still muffled. "We're taking a break."
I smiled, feeling a warmth spreading through me as I realized she was choosing to spend this time with me. It was a simple gesture, but it meant a lot to me.
As the movie progressed, I couldn't help but notice how Hanna was getting more and more nervous. She would jump at every sudden sound, her eyes squeezing shut at the particularly scary parts.
"Are you sure you're not scared?" I asked, a mischievous grin on my face.
She tried to play it cool, but her eyes betrayed her true feelings. "Of course not," she scoffed, her voice slightly trembling. "I'm not scared of anything."
I chuckled softly. "It's okay to be scared, Hanna," I said, my voice gentle. "It's only a movie."
Hanna's cheeks flushed slightly, and she averted her gaze. "I know, I know," she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's just... I'm not used to watching horror movies."
I smiled softly, my heart melting at her vulnerability. "It's okay, Hanna," I reassured her. "We can always switch to something else if you want."
"No, it's fine," she insisted, though her voice still wavered slightly. "I'll try to be brave."
I chuckled, finding her determination endearing. "That's the spirit," I said, my voice filled with encouragement.
We continued watching the movie, and although Hanna still jumped at the occasional scare, she seemed to be growing more comfortable. She even started making comments about the plot and characters, her initial fear giving way to curiosity and engagement.
As the movie reached its climax, the tension on the screen thickened. The eerie music, the suspenseful silences, and the gruesome visuals all combined to create an atmosphere of dread and anticipation.
Suddenly, a particularly terrifying scene flashed across the screen, accompanied by a bloodcurdling scream. Hanna flinched, burying her face in her hands.
I couldn't help but laugh at her reaction. "Hahahaha!"
"Ughh, Xian! You always laugh at me!" she whined, her voice muffled by her hands.
< Chapter 197 > Fin.